Jim Henson's film Labyrinth is getting its first-ever graphic novel adaptation, on the cusp of the movie's 40th anniversary. Released in 1986, it was not a box office smash in the US, considered a rare failure for creative powerhouse Jim Henson, the man behind Sesame Street and The Muppets. In the intervening decades, Labyrinth has gained cult status from families who like their fantasy dark and original.

According the announcement from publisher Boom! Studios, writer Kyla Vanderklugt and artist Giorgio Spalletta will re-envision the classic fantasy story in the comic medium, which offers a wild expanse in which they can elaborate on the ambitious ideas of the original.

Notably, This upcoming Labyrinth adaptation itself is not taken directly from the film, but from the 1986 novelization of it by A. C. H. Smith, which was written in collaboration with Jim Henson, and was released with images and notes from his sketchbook from during the film's production.

Boom! Studios' Archaia imprint will be releasing Labyrinth adaptation, which is set to arrive in September 2024. Archaia has had great success with other graphic novel adaptations, like Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five by Ryan North and Albert Monteys, and even a Labyrinth prequel set in the 18th century, Labyrinth: Coronation , written by Simon Spurrier, with art by Daniel Bayliss.

Labyrinth Graphic Novel Adaptation Will Celebrate 4 Decades Of The Cult Film

Jim Henson's Labyrinth #1 – Written By Kyla Vanderklugt; Art By Giorgio Spalletta​​​​​​​

By turning Labyrinth into a graphic novel, writer Kyla Vanderklugt Demon in the Wood and artist Spalletta need to recreate the fantasy world on the page.

Labyrinth is the story of Sarah, played by Jennifer Connolly, a teenage girl given to getting lost in fantasy. While babysitting her infant brother on a dark, stormy night, in a moment of selfishness she wishes he'd be taken away by goblins, when he won't stop crying. Surprisingly, her wish comes true, and she spends the rest of the film navigating the labyrinth of the Goblin King Jareth – played by David Bowie – in order to save her sibling. Along the way, she meets fantastical friends and foes, and discovers power only teen girls can have in fairy tales.

As Labryinth artist Giorgio Spalletta said of the movie:

Labyrinth is one of the films that most frightened and most fascinated me as a child. I am overjoyed to interpret that universe that has so influenced my imagination by getting to explore every corner of it.

Indeed, one of the reasons the movie attained cult status was that it seemed too dark and scary for children, despite them being the intended audience. However, Henson’s boundless imagination and state-of-the-art puppetry eventually worked their way into everyone's hearts. By turning Labyrinth into a graphic novel, writer Kyla Vanderklugt Demon in the Wood and artist Spalletta need to recreate the fantasy world on the page, without relying on the masterwork of the Jim Henson Creature Shop.

The Comic Book Medium Opens Up A Maze Of Possibilities For "Labyrinth"

The Perfect Medium For Fantasy

Labyrinth is a perfect story for a graphic novel adaptation, as one important part of it is interesting and inspired visuals. In the comics medium, writers and artists can take this in many different directions

Both of Labryinth's creators seem excited to take on the challenge presented by adapting the iconic property. Writer Kyla Vanderklugt explained:

Labyrinth is such a unique fantasy that holds a special place in the hearts of so many. It was a privilege to adapt the film into graphic novel form, and Giorgio’s art is perfect to bring the story to mesmerizing life. I can’t wait for readers to fall in love with the world and characters all over again, just as I did.

BOOM! Studios released three of the covers, revealing that so many artists took inspiration from Jim Henson's film, itself inspired by the illustrations of Brian Froud. Miguel Mercado's main cover perfectly illustrates the upside-down nature of the labyrinth, with Sarah and friends mirrored against Jareth and his goblin horde. David Mack’s variant cover paints Jareth as a force of nature with his promises blending into the background.

Labyrinth is a perfect story for a graphic novel adaptation, as one important part of it is interesting and inspired visuals. In the comics medium, writers and artists can take this in many different directions, mixing up the orientation of the pages to suggest how lost one can get in the titular maze, and introducing characters who never could have been made practically in 1986. Artist Giorgio Spalletta said the original movie had “so influenced my imagination,” and now he can pay that forward by inspiring the next generation to pick up the graphic novel, and maybe revisit the film, Labyrinth.

Jim Henson's Labyrinth #1 will be released on September 18, 2024 from BOOM! Studios.